This is a solid, powerful, stunning, and most biblical text from both Jonathan Edwards and John Piper. This book includes Edward's essay titled "The End for Which God Created the World," along with comments and further delineation from John Piper. To read Edwards sometimes takes much concentration and hard work, and Piper has done a great job bringing this work to life.

The first part of the book is an introduction to Edwards's work, by Piper (a sort of commentary, if you will), and the later part is the actual work of Edwards's. Piper begins by expressing his concern about the issue at hand, and then leads into a discussion of not only Edwards's life but his work as well. Piper comments on Edwards's conclusions in relation to Piper's concerns in his current ministry and then allows the reader to take what Piper has discussed and make application of it through Edwards's original work.

The thing I find most interesting about this work is its relevancy. What I mean by this is the fact that Edwards's wrote this work 200+ years ago and it is still pertinent to our own culture today (sure proof that the Truths of God endure forever). This is a great text, solid theology, and extremely relevant reading for today. I heartily recommend this work!

In this book John Piper reprints Edwards' classic, The End for Which God Created the World. The first four chapters include the insightful commentary about Edwards' work along with Piper's own reasoning for reprinting the work in the climate of today's theologically shallow church. Edwards' work is difficult reading, but his reason and biblical arguments are irrefutable as he explains that God's glory is the ultimate purpose and chief end of everything that exists.

If you are wondering where the foundation of John Piper's God-centered theology may be found, this book is a good starting point. In it, Piper reintroduces a theological masterpiece that is almost three hundred years old - "The End for which God Created the World" by the New England Puritan pastor, Jonathan Edwards. Piper's own book-length introduction describes the impact Jonathan Edwards has had on his own life, suggests the relevance that this book will have to our own culture, and provides a brief, but helpful sketch of Jonathan Edwards' life. The work by Edwards is then carefully broken down into numbered paragraphs and is accompanied by Piper's helpful footnotes. Edwards' thesis is simple - God's ultimate aim in everything He does is to uphold and display the glory of His name for the joy of His people. This thesis is worked out with iron-clad logic (be prepared to think!) and meditation on dozens of Biblical passages. If yours is the prayer of Moses - "show me Thy glory" - then this is the book for you.

Commander Edward Ellsberg USN was responsible for the salvage of S-51, a United States submarine sunk in a collision with a freighter off the Atlantic coast in September, 1925. Only 3 of the crew survived and the sub lay in 132 feet of water. The Navy dispached Ellsberg and an assemblage of "hard-hat" divers to raise the sub. Nothing like this had ever been attempted before and the combination of courage, ingenuity and dogged determination required make this exciting reading. The sense of fear is palpable as he writes of having to operate in the cold darkness of the interior of the sub. Living with the constant risk of the bends, the limitations of the heavy diving aparatus with its life-line, airhose, and lead shoes, these men fought with the sea and won. Originally published in 1928, and long out of print, Ellsberg's writing stands the test of time. While it is a work of non-fiction, "On The Bottom," will be interesting to the average reader of adventure novels, and it will be absolutely delicious to anyone with even a slight interest in sea-stories, diving, or submarines. Re-read many times, my copy of the 1928 edition is beginning to suffer, but my wonder at the content and enjoyment of the writing remain.

I thought this would just be another submarine combat story, it was not. When I look back on it the plot sounds boring and over technical, the recovery of a sunken US Navy submarine in the late 1920s after it is hit by a larger ship, but I found the tail surprisingly dramatic and engaging.

The story is really about the bravery, leadership and innovation of the men that were able to do something that had never been done before. A glossary helps with the technical jargon.

Anyone with military experience, is a diver, enjoys/studies submarines or wants to read about brave men and how to lead them, Edward Ellsberg's book is a great case study and quick read (one night). Life threatening risks for people in the military do not always entail combat.

Surprisingly dramatic., January 21, 1998

I thought this would just be another submarine combat story, it was not. When I look back on it, the plot sounds boring and overly technical, the recovery of a sunken US Navy submarine in the late 1920s after it is hit by a larger ship, but I found the tail surprisingly dramatic and engaging.

The story is really about the bravery, leadership and innovation of the men that were able to do something that had never been done before. A glossary helps with the technical jargon.

Anyone with military experience, is a diver, enjoys/studies submarines or wants to read about brave men and how to lead them, Edward Ellsberg's book is a great case study and quick read (one night). Life threatening risks for people in the military do not always entail combat.

I wrote the review above five years ago. I just reread the book and still think this is one of the best. Since nobody has made this into a movie or reprinted it yet, it was available free online electronically in text editor format. If I was teaching a graduate course on leadership it would be required reading.

At last, a book that gives us permission to dream and a guide on how to bring those dreams to fruition. Only Paul and Sarah could have written such a book. So often others tell us to forget our dreams and merely live as the rest of the world. But in "The Practical Dreamers Handbook" we're told it's all right to have these dreams and to act on them. I've noticed a different writing style from Paul & Sarah..one of peace and tranquility. Thank you Paul and Sarah for this book.

Psychotherapist, radio show host and coauthor with husband, Paul, of several books on home-based businesses, Sarah Edwards tells, along with Paul, the story of their move from harried, successful lives in Los Angeles to happy,successful lives in bucolic Pine Mountain, CA. The many setbacks and obstacles they overcame on this journey could provide enough encouragement to jump-start timid dreamers, but the Edwardses don't stop there. Recounting stories of Pine Mountain neighbors who also left the beaten path of overwork and unhappi-ness, the authors lead the way through desire and action to satisfaction. The Edwardses provide many surprisingly fresh and memorable, "Try This" exercises and "Remember This" summaries to get readers moving in the right direction.

Their' forte is fusing the practical and imaginative, while recognizing the many roadblocks on the way. What makes this encouraging and helpful manual different from other "follow your bliss" guides is its fresh mix of clear, workable advice, realistic portrayals of just how long and challenging the road to fulfillment may actually be, and abundant examples of success. Rejecting both the traditional model of working hard for decades so that you can retire and then do what you want, as well as the prevailing model of goal setting and minute-by-minute day planning,the authors provide a truly original outline for "creating a simpler, more balanced life" that is not predicated on giving up money, comfort or anything one's heart desires. (Sept.)

This book was (for me) just the right mix of motivation for following your dreams and practical advice. The book is nicely divided into three sections - 1) Desire-Awakening the Dream, 2)Action-Building the New Reality, and 3)Satisfaction-Enjoying yourself. This is an uplifting, can-do type of book that celebrates your dreams and ambitions, which is nice in the face of all of the nay-sayers. If you don't have a dream yet but want one, _The Practical Dreamer's Handbook_ might just help get your juices flowing again!

This book is wonderful. Patricia Polacco is a wonderful authorwho tells such real life stories. I love the fact that they worked sohard to buy the hat for Miss Eula. Also she does beautiful illustrations. From the pictures you can find out so much more about the story. The language she uses in this book is so real that you can almost really hear them talking. I would reccomend this book to anyone who likes to read. Patricis Polacco can touch the heart of all people, young and old!

I am a big fan of Patricia Polacco, she's one of my favorite children's author/illustrators. This book lives up to my expectations: Warm, big-hearted pictures seem to burst from its pages--the images fill your heart and mind like old memories brought vividly to life. Ms. Polacco also places real photographs of real neighbors (in Oakland, California) amidst her soft, rolling illustrations, adding the intimacy of a scrapbook to this tale of interracial/intergenerational friendship and love.

After two boys are mistakenly accused by Mr. Kodinsky's shop (Mr. Kodinsky is a Holocaust survivor, look for the faded blue number on his left arm) their grandmother and mother help them make beautifully decorated eggs to show Mr. Kodinsky that they really are good boys. The ensueing bonds of friendship and treasured memories make for a wonderful family reading experience, especially for children attuned (or who need some exposure) to warmth and the joy of giving.

Chicken Sunday is another one of my favorite Polacco books. This is a fabulous and emotionally touching story of an interracial friendship and the children's journey of love and service. Young Patricia (who has written another great episode about her rich and colorful life) and her two best friends Stewart and Winston (who happen to be black) want to buy the boy's gramma (Eula Mae) a hat that she has wanted but could not afford to buy. Since the death of her beloved babushka, Eula Mae also serves as Patricia's surrogate grandmother. The children witness an act of racism on the hat shop owned by the Holocaust survivor Mr. Kodinski. They were going to ask Kodinski for a job to raise the money to buy Eula Mae her favorite hat. Mr. Kodinski sees the children and assumes that they are responsible for the act of violence. Ultimately, the children redeem themselves by making Pysanky eggs for Mr. Kodinski to sell in his store. He tells them the story of his life and then gives the trio the hat. Naturally Eula Mae is thrilled.
Chicken Sunday is named after the chicken dinner that Eula Mae feed the children every Sunday after Church. This is another multi-cultural book teaching children that it is okay to have friendships with people who are different. Incidentally, Patricia remains close to these boys to this very day. It also exposes children to different types of racism. This book has a wonderful lesson for children and adults.

St. Francis de Sales is one of the greatest of spiritual writers and writers, period. It is easy to be charmed by this guide to the spiritual life. He inspires the reader with a gentle, loving touch which I found delightful. He was also a very learned and experienced adviser when it came to things of the spirit. He seemed to have known about every difficulty that one has in the spiritual life and offers practical and wise solutions that anyone can carry out. If you are interested in reading the great spiritual classics, be certain not to miss this one. It will be well worth your time. I cannot imagine anyone finishing this volume without obtaining some excellent advice from it and also without making progress just from reading it. The only drawback is that it IS several hundreds years old and some of the theology is dated and will seem strange to modern, post Vatican 2 Christians. Do not let that keep you from this book, just keep it in mind when reading it. Highly recommended.

I can't say it any better than JMark does below, but I feel strongly enough about this book to echo some points.

I knew the book was a few hundred years old and was more or less expecting some datedness in the description of religious practice and in the writing style. What took me completely by surprise was how USEFUL de Sales' advice still remains. He was, as already mentioned, a gentle, wise and thankfully down-to-earth spiritual director. He did not expect over-night transformations and did not advise extreme measures in the spiritual journey. His writing is encouraging and immediately applicable.

When my husband was worried about dryness in prayer, I found the section in this book dealing with spiritual dryness and read it to him. He, although not much of a reader before then, immediately grabbed the book, read the section again himself, and told me that was exactly what he had been experiencing. He has taken permanent possession of the book (to my delight), and has gained a lot of reassurance and practical wisdom from it.

This is an excellent book for persons just embarking on a deeper spiritual life. Once you adjust to the vocabulary he uses, you will understand why Saint Francis de Sales was considered one of the best spiritual directors of his day, and is considered one of the Doctors of the Church. I wouldn't be surprised if, like so many other readers, you find yourself growing downright fond of him.

By Jordan Aumann, O.P., Christian Spirituality in the Catholic Tradition (1985)

The doctrine taught by St. Francis de Sales was not new, but he did present spiritual teaching in an original manner and he deserves credit for removing Christian spirituality from the monastic framework in which it had been confined for many centuries....

The Introduction to the Devout Life...was written precisely for the laity and perhaps St. Francis de Sales is the first spiritual writer to compose a treatise of lay spirituality. As he states in his preface, those who have written previously on the spiritual life have done so for the instruction of persons who have given up association with the world or they have taught a spirituality that would lead persons to do so. The intention of St. Francis, however, is to give spiritual instruction to those who remain in the world, in their professions and in their families, and falsely believe that it is impossible for them to strive for the devout life.

What does St. Francis understand by the devout life or true devotion?...

True devotion, which for St. Francis de Sales is the same as Christian perfection, is the fulfillment of the twofold precept of charity enunciated by Christ (Mt. 22:34-40)....

Although he mentions the good works that flow from true devotion, St. Francis is insistent that the devout life is essentially an interior life....

Immediately after stressing the universal call of all Christians to perfection, St. Francis de Sales insists on the need for a spiritual director....

The first task facing the soul is purgation from sin, and here St. Francis follows the teaching of St. Ignatius Loyola, proposing meditation on the last ends and a general confession. Then, there must be a complete renunciation of all attachment to sin, without which there can be no lasting conversion and no progress in perfection....

In the second part of the Introduction St. Francis proposes a daily schedule of spiritual exercises in which the practice of mental prayer holds a central position....

In the third part of the Introduction St. Francis considers the practice of virtue, selecting those which are particularly necessary for the Christian layman. Of all the virtues treated we could say that, after charity, the predominantly Salesian virtue is meekness....Finally, in the last two parts of the Introduction St. Francis treats of temptations, sadness, consolations, and aridity and concludes the work with a series of self-examinations and considerations whereby the soul can judge its progress in true devotion. Thus, in its totality the Introduction to the Devout Life provides a complete program for the spiritual advancement of the laity.

Your strategic planning must incorporate the people who work for you, says author Edward L. Gubman in a book that gets high marks for its easy, bullet-point organization, but scores in the middle of the curve in terms of originality. Grubman preaches that you must create a strategic alliance between your company’s mission and competencies and the people who work there. Then, he describes how to motivate and involve people, and finally how to assess their performance. He uses research examples and starts each chapter with a bullet-point summary of key information. The book includes questions to ask yourself, and many useful charts and summary lists. However, the theoretical discussion of how to engage and reward employees seems oddly dry and analytical for a how-to guide on how to motivate and excite people. The areas of job matching, motivation, and assessment have been covered in many other books, but we... recommend Gubman’s authoritative approach to these topics.

THE TALENT SOLUTION is the first book to lead the best companies into the new millenium. Gubman explains how the merger and acquisition strategy of the 80's; and the cost cutting (generally people) tactics of the 90's now needs another change.

Both older strategies need to align a company's talent with the development of their people, and what they love to do, with their eagerness to serve shareholders and increase the value of their investment. What a simple idea! But most senior executives aren't prepared to address the harder job of developing talent...as incomprehensible as it seems, who's going to tackle this necessary task?

Some companies are already in the race that aknowlede today's shortage of talent. Most are not. When we look back on the first years of the coming decade, it will likely be known as the decade of Organizational Effectiveness...in which the companies that attained extraordinary results...accomplished their goals by focusing their talent.

THE TALENT SOLUTION is a must read for any manager, and all CEO's. I would very much like Gubman's team to work with any company I plan to invest in and I hope that his book becomes widely read, but most importantly, I hope managers will have the insight to implement his ideas.

A well thought through book written by a consultant with a vast amount of varied experience. The illustrative brief case studies were most helpful in understanding the thoughts, concepts, ideas and strategies. In a global economy where talent is an increasingly scarce resource, HR practitioners will find the book a very valuable resource to craft, adapt, adjust or align their practices to be more organisation and employee friendly. Mr Gubman strategic perspective of people in terms of organisational development and growth of people is indeed a very commendable effort and very insightful. The "Creating the Talent Solution" at the end of each chapter should provoke readers to critically look at their own organisation with a fresh perspective. It will help you draw a better road map in your talent search!

If you are looking for an intriguing story to read this summer about a man and the course his life has taken then "Hearing Footsteps" is a must read. The man known as Jackson Duredt is a unique and likable character from page one. His life has been described by the author with amazing detail. You can't help but feel like you are right there experiencing his lonely walk home on a summer night from the local movie house. The story captivates and carries the reader along a journey through a small town upbringing to murder to Olympic Site Scandals to the beautiful Mexican coast.

The plot will take through twists and turns leading up to a triumph for Jackson's hometown, Jackson's family and most importantly Jackson. I loved this book and was sad to have finished it. I wanted more to read. A sign of any great story. Congratulations Mr. Kallbacka on an excellent first book!

What a great story! With the Winter Olympics just around the corner, Hearing Footsteps simulates the politics and power struggles surrounding such an event. The book kept me captivated from cover to cover. In particular, I liked the author's unique, creative writing style. Key paragraphs are mini-stories within themselves with the ending sentence providing the zinger and often the humor. Definitely 5 stars!

Hearing Footsteps is a complex work by first time author, Edward Kallbacka. The novel is a fast read and pushes you to the end with the suspense of the story and the literary style in which it was written. It is a great read and I hope to see more by this author in the very near future. He shows true passion for writing and personally, I hope to see more of his work soon.

This is an extraordinary book to prepare the board. Simple,concise, to the point. I upgraded from the second edition and it was really worth the upgrade. New chapters and new presentation with key concepts and case discussion worth reading. All time companion book !!

Excellent book, easy to read and understand. Perfect to prepare an exam. Just what you need as a all time companion book

This book is well-presented, easy to read and, with the case scenarios presented at the end of each chapter, puts some of the most important clinical considerations in anaesthetics into a truly practical way. It is relatively small too, so that it is portable and can be referenced easily. All in all, an excellent book.

The American Dream is another of Albee's many commentaries on our society. Albee saw that in every one of us there exists an ideal, the American dream. While this dream is different for us all, Albee felt that all of us simply expect our American dream to come true. This play examines the anarchy that can result from the realization that life just doesn't work the way we all imagine it can. Albee's goal is to make us all more aware of the way we think, so that we may alter it to be more correct and fulfilled. This play is not for a reader looking for entertainment. The lack of humanity in the play makes it a very abstract piece, obviously aimed at conveying a point rather than a story.

Zoo Story

There is something unique about the works of Edward Albee, a kind of mood, or wry-but-not-entirely-dry attitude, one recognizes but can't quite put his finger on. This "story" of a suburbanite with two daughters minding his own business on a park bench who is accosted by a poorer but somehow wiser man who has been at the zoo was Edward Albee's first play to be seen by the public. Dating from 1958, the one-act play, which like much of Albee's work seems to deftly mix absurdist elements with an intimate rendering of the American bourgoisie--and a sort of silent, if perhaps ironical, nod to mystical Christianity--he reminds me of a dramaturgic Saint Francis of Assisi--was first seen in Berlin. As in Who's Afraid of Virgina Wolf? and The Goat, the object of desire is off stage, at least until the end, at which point "its" "retrieval" reveals a generalized dissatisfaction which the playwright allows to be dispersed as satisfaction after all, in conformity with the peculiarities of human desire and the conventions of literary endings. This two-man play seems to work largely because the older, more well-to-do man, Peter-a kind of icon of smug suburbanite self-satisfaction, who wants to be entertained, as it were, from the outside--is drawn in--across the white picket fence, or here, the green slatted Central Park bench--to the life of the slightly younger Jerry--a sort of stand--in it would seem for the playwrite, and his dramatic task to involve us all in a participatory experience this side--or perhaps a little more--of religion.

The American Dream

Although I have read/seen only four of Albee's works (Who's Afraid of Virgina Wolf, Zoo Story, and The Goat), this seems to me the work of his that owes most to-or is closest to- the theater of the absurd-particularly to Samuel Beckett. And yet, as the title suggests, the work is far more American-down home, you might say-and so is the humor. The main characters are "Mommy," "Daddy" and "Grandma"-and Grandma is a scream. Her brilliant, if irascible, wit contains some brilliant, if not exactly unbiased, observations on the treatment of, expectations from, and inner reality of, the elderly. She comes off as the most intelligent person in the play, and the one we identify with the most-even if her metaphysical capacities for hiding objects, forgetting who her strumpet daughter is, and desiring with spiritual ardor the flesh of the young who may or may not be her own are not necessarily everyone's instantiation of satisfaction's successful pursuit.

I saw this play done by a small group of high school students the past year and it is perhaps one of the best plays I've ever seen. Edward Albee has mastered the art of Absurdest.

Edward Ricardo Braithwaite To Sir, With Love is one of the most infinitely rewarding books I have ever read. The story is about a man, Ricky braithwaith, who after getting out of the Service looks for a job in the growing technological field in which he has exceedingly good qualification. But when he returns to England to look for a job he soon remembers, after numerous shutdowns, that his skin color is impeding on his career chose. But he eventually finds a job as a teacher of a tough group of lower class youngsters who have made many a teacher turn tale and run. But with amazing perseverances our hero is able to tame these children and show them and all the others at the school that there is an other side of life.

A story I've read many times since it was first published, To Sir, With Love tells of an extraordinary teacher, a mentor for all of us in the profession. His teaching style was one wherein the basic values of respect and dignity were realized in every student; and what an outstanding role model he was for those students in the East End of London. I had the extreme honor of meeting the author back in 1967. He spoke at a school-wide assembly, and later welcomed my students at the Guyana Embassy in New York, where he served as United Nations Ambassador. A gentleman, an exemplary teacher, a role model, a mentor...his story reflects all these attributes. Thank you, "Sir" for your story, one that lives on and touches all who read it. Lois Finn Magovern, Longmeadow, Massachusetts

I loved this story so much that I read it twice, which is rare for me. The way a single teacher can so greatly touch the lives of under-priveleged students is awe-inspiring. Through Braithwaite's extraordinary writing, the reader learns of how a teacher transforms a bunch of unruly teenagers who have a bleak future, to a group of mature young adults. The gentle ironies are eye-opening; I love the teacher's teaching methods. The best part, the aspect of To Sir With Love that really touched me, is that it's based on a true story. This is a must-read....for anyone.